WORLD NEWS

Majority of Americans Back Palestinian Statehood Despite Trump’s Opposition: Reuters/Ipsos

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 59% of Americans — including 80% of Democrats and 41% of Republicans — support U.S. recognition of a Palestinian state, putting public opinion at odds with President Trump’s stance.
2025-10-22
Majority of Americans Back Palestinian Statehood Despite Trump’s Opposition: Reuters/Ipsos

A majority of Americans believe the United States should recognize a Palestinian state, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, highlighting a widening gap between U.S. public sentiment and President Donald Trump’s current policy.

The six-day national survey, which concluded on Monday, found that 59% of Americans favor U.S. recognition of Palestinian statehood, while 33% oppose it and the remainder were undecided.

Support for recognition was particularly strong among Democrats, with 80% backing the move, compared to 41% of Republicans. Roughly half of Republicans — 53% — opposed U.S. recognition of a Palestinian state.

The findings come as U.S. allies including Britain, Canada, France, and Australia have formally recognized Palestinian statehood in recent weeks — moves that have drawn sharp condemnation from Israel. The creation of Israel in 1948 displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, sparking a decades-long conflict that remains unresolved.

The poll also revealed growing concern among Americans over Israel’s military response in Gaza. 60% of respondents said Israel’s actions were excessive, compared with 32% who disagreed.

President Trump, who returned to the White House in January, has maintained staunch support for Israel. Earlier this month, he brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, fueling hopes for a possible breakthrough toward lasting peace.

Despite his broader unpopularity among Democrats, the survey found that 25% of Democrats believe Trump should receive credit if his peace efforts succeed. Overall, 51% of Americans said Trump “deserves significant credit” should a peace deal hold, while 42% disagreed.

Still, achieving a sustainable peace remains uncertain. Renewed clashes over the weekend threatened to unravel the week-old truce as U.S. diplomats scrambled to restore negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Key sticking points include Hamas’s disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawals, and governance of Gaza, which remain unresolved.

Trump’s approval rating on foreign policy has seen a modest rebound amid the ceasefire efforts, rising to 38% in the latest poll — his highest since July — up from 33% earlier this month.